Meadow Hall Staff Newsletter

Happy New Year!! We hope everyone had a relaxing and rejuvenating break. Our second quarter will be wrapping up in a little over three weeks. Thanks to YOU, our students have learned, achieved and grown so much this year. We're looking forward to strong finish to the first semester.

We have a busy month ahead of us... WIDA ACCESS, MAP testing, Dibels, district assessments, etc... Please be on the lookout for emails with detailed instructions and schedules. Thank you, everyone, for your flexibility during this busy time!

**One side note - our Game Night and Science Fair had to be bumped one day (to February 1st) because Wood MS scheduled an event for incoming students on the 31st which was our planned date.

The purpose of these voluntary chats is to get an opportunity to learn about your experiences at MHES and consider feedback as I continue to work with Mrs. Simhon and school leaders here at Meadow Hall. Each chat will be no longer than 20 minutes. For your reference, I have included the focus questions I would like to discuss at the bottom of the page. However, if a longer conversation is needed, we can set up a time to continue our conversation. Please take a moment to put your name in one of the slots that I have listed for the months of January and February. I will add the Google link if you would like to chat post-work hours. If none of these times work, please reach out via email to set up another time. I ask that all staff who would like to chat please sign up by January 15th.

Principal Chat Sign-Ups LINK

Please remember to always have students with a hall pass when leaving the classroom. It may be your usual "Bathroom Pass" or one of the half-sheets we gave out at the beginning of the year. It's important to have the date/time on the paper, so we know how long the student has been out of class and where they are headed. Then, we can help them return to class as quickly as possible. Thank you!

As winter weather approaches, please take some time to teach your students how to get to your Canvas site and log into your zoom link. If we were to have a "code purple" day and engaged in synchronous instruction our virtual schedule is now on the 2nd tab of our Master Schedule. Specialists will join the Zoom Link of the homeroom teacher during specials to ease the transition for students.

Please see the linked SGA Meeting Notes prior to Winter Break.

A request from the December Triad meeting - please pick up your class from lunch on time if they are not being escorted to specials right after lunch. Paraeducators with lunch duty often miss part of their own personal lunch time or break or are late to small groups when classes aren't picked up when scheduled. Your colleagues thank you!

Lunch Time Ends at....

Kindergarten - 11:45am

Grade 1 - 12:25pm

Grade 2 - 1:00pm

Grade 3 - 12:05pm

Grade 4 - 12:40pm

Grade 5 - 1:35pm

Upgrades:

1. We will invite families to the celebrations. Families will have the option to come in person or to join virtually via zoom.
2. There are a few new awards that students can earn and there are some upgrades to awards we have already been giving. Please take some time to review the K-1 criteria or the 2-5 criteria. Also share these criteria with your students, so they know what awards they can work toward earning. (If you have any questions about the awards or criteria, please let me know).
3. We will have teachers fill out the awards for their students. As the time gets closer to the event, I will place the certificates you will need to complete in your mailbox.
4. Also, we will create a display to post all of the students' names that earn an award each marking period.

All MHES staff received communication from MCPS regarding our responsibility for social media posts (both personal and private). I want to encourage staff to visit the Social Media best practices site from MCPS for your reference. If you have questions or concerns please contact administration. Best Practices

Staff will earn a stipend and students will earn SSL hours.

Staff PD Opportunities

(Rescheduled Date) LGBTQ+ History in Montgomery County for Staff

Date: January 9, 2024

Time: 5 PM – 6 PM

Location: Zoom

PDO: 92052

Compensation: $20/hour (The change in compensation will be corrected in PDO soon.)

Flyer

Understanding and Preventing Islamophobia

Description: Staff will learn what Islamophobia is and how to identify, prevent, and respond to it. This session will be led by Dr. Susan Douglass, Georgetown University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies K-14 Education Outreach Director.

Date: January 18, 2024

Time: 5 PM – 6 PM

PDO: 92209

Compensation: $20/hour (The change in compensation will be corrected in PDO soon.)

Flyer

Student Opportunities

Understanding and Preventing Islamophobia for Students

Description: Students will learn what Islamophobia is and how to identify, prevent, and respond to it. This student session will be led by Dr. Susan Douglass, Georgetown University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies K-14 Education Outreach Director.

Date: January 16, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Zoom Webinar (Zoom Registration Link)

2 SSL Hours

Flyer

Remembering the Holocaust: International Holocaust Remembrance Day Student Webinar

Description: Middle and high school students are invited to participate in a webinar to learn about the Holocaust and the artwork of a Holocaust survivor, Esther Nisenthal Krinitz. This program is in collaboration with Art & Remembrance.

Date: January 25, 2024

Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Location: Zoom Webinar (Zoom Registration Link)

2 SSL Hours

Flyer

In order to support teams when other team members are out I am asking that all teams plan to submit at least one set of sub plans. It is the expectation that when they have been used that the sub plans will be replaced by a team member within the next week. All Emergency sub plan material is required to be copied and placed into a folder, brought down to the main office and stored in the file room. All slides, etc. can be placed in the grade level folder in an Emergency Sub plan folder. Once teams have (1) created the folder in their team planning file online and (2) copied material and placed it in the office bin in the student file room please send an email to administration letting us know it has been done.

We also ask that all team members review the expectations for sub plans (both expected/planned and unplanned leave) linked here.

Next PTA meeting will be Tuesday, January 9th at 7pm

Jersey Mike's Dine Out Night - Thursday, January 18th

Complete Team Emergency sub plans and turn in copies to the main office.

Sign up for a Principal Chat (optional)

Thursday, January 4

• Grade k/1 town hall @ 9:05-9:45am
• Grade 2/3 town hall @ 9:50-10:30am
• Grade 4/5 town hall @ 2:30-3:10pm

Tuesday, January 9

• Leadership Team mtg @ 3:45pm
• PTA mtg @ 7pm

Monday, January 15

• No School; holiday

Tuesday, January 16

• Staff mtg @ 3:45pm

Tuesday, January 23

• Equity PLC mtg @ 3:45pm

Friday, January 26

• End of MP2

Monday, January 29

• Professional Day (no school for students)
  
• MP2 grades due

Thursday, February 1

• Game Night and Science Fair

Email: Ilana_N_Simhon@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/
Location: 951 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, USA
Phone: 240-740-5260